Variable pressure apparatus



Nov. 29, '1938. A, l, NEWMAN 2,138,527

VARIABLE PRESSURE APPARATUS Filed June 6, 1,935 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

@WITCH y @MVM-4 Nov. 29, 193.; A. l. NIN/MANv f 2,138,527

VARIABLE PRSSURE APPARATUS Filed June 6,4, 1935- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lill! VACUUM VA LVE a To Powe/e .SUPPLY Y /Z l zUenor; lgcander l/VewmQ/z Patented Novit. 29, 193s UNITE par at ortica 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing and controlling pressure variations within a container, and particularly to means for automatically producing predetermined variations in pressure either above atmospheric pressure or below atmospheric pressure, or variations extending from above to below atmospheric pressure and vice versa. For convenience, atmospheric and higher pressures will be herein termed positive pressures, and pressures below atmospheric pressure will be referred to as negative pressures.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one of many possible embodiments of my invention, while Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically another embodiment of .the invention. Fig. 2B is a modiiication that may be made in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l.: The numeral i denotes a container within which pressure variations are to be produced. This container may be of any construction suited to the purpose for which the pressure variations are desired, as', for example, the treatment of aninjured human limb. The container l is closed save for any necessary opening (as, for example, the opening 2) through which that which is to be subjected to variable pressures may be inserted.

The means'for producing variable pressures within the container l may be a pump or blower of any preferred construction, as, for example, a rotary pump 3 having a port d leading to the atmosphere, and a port 5 connected by means of a linel of pipe with the interior of the chamber i. Thapump 3 is adapted to be driven in either direction so as ,to increase or decrease positive or negative pressures within the chamber i. The means for driving the pump 3, first in pne'direction and then inthe other, may be of any desired character. Herein I have shown a reversible electric motor 'i connected to drive the pump 3. Alternations in direction of operation of the motor 'l may be produced in any conventional manner,

as, for example, by adjusting the electrical connections between the motor and the powersupply. Herein I have shown a motor connected to a reversing switch of the mercury type by means of the wires 9, H3 and 'l l, the wire i@ being arranged to be connected to the power supply through a switch i2.

The reversing switch 8 may be operated by any suitable means to connect the wire lli alternately .with the wires 9 and li to cause the motor to run in oneldirection or the other. Fig. 1 shows an arm i3 connected to the switch 8 and arranged to be moved in one direction by a spring it and in `the wires 9 and it are connected. When the sure' and the minimum pressure for predeterthe opposite direction by'a disk l5 having pins I6 and il arranged to engage the arm i3 and swing said arm from the mid-position shown, wherein the motor is idle, to the position wherein disk I5 is in such position that the spring it may swing the arm I3 down into the space between a pin Il! and the following pin l 6, the switch 8 assumes such a position that the wires il? and l l are connected in circuit. It will be understood that thev arm lt or the device I5, i6, i'i for operating said aim may be so constructed as to produce dwells of any desired relative length. In Fig. 1 the disk l 5 is shown as arranged to be oontinuously rotated by means of a constant-speed motor l 8 connectedto the power supply and controlled by a switch le, but any desired means may be employed to drive said disk. It will be seen ythat said disk with its pins it and li is in the nature of a cam.

The means illustrated in Fig. 1 for determining the pressures to be produced within the container l comprises two manually operable valves 2@ and 2| which may be of the globe type, or any other preferred construction, the valve 2@ being connected to the atmosphere through a check valve 22 which is arranged to allow atmospheric pressure to enter the system, and the valve 2l being connected to the atmosphere through a check valve 23 adapted to allow pressure to escape to the atmosphere. Q

Ii desired, the chamber i maybe provided with a pressure gauge 2d and a safety relief device 25.

VThe operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is as follows: The valves 20 and 2i are opened to allow a slight leakage. The switches Ii and i9 are then closed, whereupon the motor i will be operated rst in one direction and then in the other to increase and decrease the pressure within the container l. The speed of the disk l5 40 is arranged to produce reversal of the motor ll, after the pressure in the container i has reached the desired point; or the leakage through the valves 2B and 2l may be adjusted so'that reversal of the motor shall occur at the time the pressure reaches the desired point; or the valves may be so adjustedthat 'reversal occurs some time after thepressure has reached the desired point, thus enabling the operator to apply the maximum presthe escape of excess pressure, the relief valve 25 55 serving to relieve the pressure in the container I if the'pressure should rise above a predetermined max'imum before the motor 1 is reversed.

When variations in negative pressures are being produced, the check valve 23 remains closed, while the valve 20 and the check valve 22 allow atmospheric pressure to enter the system. if the pressure in the container I should go below a' predetermined minimum before the motor l' is reversed, the relief device 25 operates to permit atmospheric pressure to enter the chamber.

If the pressure within'the container I is being caused to fluctuate from positive to negative atmospheric pressure and vice versa, the valves 20 and 22 and the valves 2I and 23 act alternately to control the pressures produced in the system.

Changes in the rangev o f the variations, and changes in the timing of the variations may be accomplished by correspondingly arranging the contour of the cam I5, I6, I1or by changing the speed of the motor 1 or the motor I8'.

Fig. 2 illustrates a form of valve which may be used in lieu of those shown in Fig.' l. The valve a comprises a valve member b (herein shown as having the form of a ball) which is held to its seat by a spring c, the pressure of which may be adjusted by means of the screw d. It will be seen that pressure within the system above a predetermined point will escape past the valve member b to the atmosphere, but that atmospheric pressure cannot enter the system past said valve member.

The valve e comprises a valve member ,f which is pressed against its seat by a' spring g, the pressure of the latter being adjustable by means of a screw h. When positive pressure is being created in the system, the valve member f prevents escape thereof to the atmosphere, but when there is negative pressure in the system, the valve member ,f opens when the predetermined minimum is reached.

In Fig. 2, the numerals I, 2,; 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 8, 9, I0, II, I2, 24 and 25 denote parts which may be 'similar to those correspondingly designated in Fig. 1. andhaving an outlet 21 to the atmosphere, said outlet being controlled by a valve 28 having a stem 23 that is connected to a diaphragm 30 in the valve casing 3l. The space at one side of the diaphragm 30 communicates with the line 6, while the space at the opposite side of theA diaphragm communicates with the atmosphere through the" port 32. The stem 29 is connected to a weighted lever 33 that tends to hold the valve 28 closed.

A valve 34 also is connected to the line 6, said valve comprising a valve casing 35 containing a diaphragm 36. A valve member 31 is connected to the diaphragm. 'Ihe space at one side of the diaphragm 36 is connected; to the line 6 and. said space is connected to the atmosphere through a port 38 which is controlled bythe valve 31.- rihe lspace at the opposite side of the partition comduced.

It will be seen that positive pressure in the system above a predetermined amount will cause the valve 31 to be unseated to allow the excess y controlled by the lever 4I.

26 is a valve connected to the line E pressure to escape through theport 38, and that a negative pressure in the system below a predetermined point will allow atmosphericpressure acting upon the lower side of the diaphragm y30 to unseat the valve 28 to allow air to enter through the port 21.

Themotor-reversing switch 8 is shown in Fig. 2 as arranged to be operated by a cam ISFi which lis driven by a motor I8?, said motor being started and stopped by means controlled by the valves 2S and 34. The motor E83 is connected to the power` supply through wires 42, 43 and 44. 45-

indicates a starting switch included in the wire i3, and 46 denotes a speed-regulating device connected between the wire 43 and a wire 41 connected to a switch point 48 that is controlled by the lever 33 and a'switch point 49 that is 50 Aand 5I are switch points coacting with the switch points 48 and 49, respectively, the switch points 50 and 5I being connected to the wire 44. I

Assuming that positive pressure is being built up in the container I, it will be seen that when determined point, the valve 28 ,will be automatically opened and the switch 48-50 closed, thereby closing a circuit through the motor I 8 to operate the mercury switch 8 to reverse the motor 1.

' The resulting increase in pressure in the system is unseated, the switch 48-50 closed, and the pump reversed. When the pressure rises to the predetermined point, thevalve 31 is opened, the switch 49--5I closed and the pump reversed.

When pressures are lbeing alternated from above to below atmospheric pressure and vice versa, the weights 4 I8L and 4 Ib are adjusted so that the switch 49-5I will close as the upper limit is reached. f

The adjustment of the levers 33 and 4I, the speed of the motor I8, and the contour of the cam I5 determines h ow much variation in pressure will be produced, Vwhether the variations shall be in positive or negative pressure or both, and the length of time between reversals.

It will be understood that the valve members 28 and 31 (Fig. 2) serve vthe purpose of thevcheck yvalves 22 andv 23 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

` Attention is directed to the fact that by reason of the reversibility ofthe rotary pump 3 a single.'

one of the ports 4 and 5 is used for both increasing and decreasing the pressure in the system;

be appreciated that more than one container may be used, it desired, and that where a plurality of containers are employed they may be arranged in series or in parallel, shut-off valves being provided to shut oi any container that is not to be used at a given time.

1n the following claims, the term pump is used for the sake of brevity to denote any equivaient means for forcing air into or withdrawing air from the container.

I claim as my invention:

1. n a pneumaticsystem for producing a periodically varying pressure, the combination oi a reversible pump having two ports, means for permanently connecting one of said ports to a container in which the pressure is to be periodically varied above and below a median value, the other oi.' said ports being permanently open to atmosphere, a reversible electric driving motor operatively connected to said p ump for driving the same in iirst one direction and then the other to cause a corresponding alternate ilow o! air into and out oi said one port, and control means for periodically reversing said power actuating means with a predetermined periodicity.

2. In a pneumatic system for producing a periodically varying pressurei the combination of a reversible pump having two ports, means for permanently connecting one of said ports to a container in which the pressure is to peper-iodically varied above and below a median value, the other of said ports being permanentlyopen to atmosphere, a reversible electric driving motor operatively connected to said pump for driving the same in first one direction and then the other to cause a corresponding alternate flow of air into and out of said one port, adjustable control means for periodically reversing said power actuating means with a predetermined periodicity,

and means responsive to the pressure at said other port for actuating said control vmeans to reverse said motor when said pressure attains predetermined limit values. A

, ALEXANDER I. NEWMAN. 

